Deciding whether a new washing machine will fit through your door is an important consideration when making a purchase. With some careful measurements and planning, you can determine if your desired appliance will successfully make it into your home.
Measuring Door Openings
The first step is to precisely measure the dimensions of your door openings that provide a path to where your new washer will be installed. This includes:
- Front door
- Doorways between rooms
- Door to laundry room/installation area
For each door, measure the following:
- Height – From floor to top of door frame
- Width – Opening between door jambs when fully opened
Record these measurements. Identifying the most narrow or shortest opening will determine if your appliance can fit through.
Reviewing Washer Dimensions
Once you know the dimensions of your doorways, it’s time to understand the size specifications of the washing machine you want to purchase. Refer to the manufacturer’s product details for the exact:
- Height
- Width
- Depth
Pay special attention to the width and height as these are what you will compare to your door openings. The depth must fit through your doors as well but width and height are often the limiting dimensions.
Will It Fit?
With your door and washing machine measurements in hand, simply compare the numbers:
- If the height and width of the appliance are less than your most narrow doorway, your new washer should successfully fit through all entrances.
- If either the height or width exceeds your doorway openings, the machine will not be able to fit.
Be sure to add a couple extra inches of clearance on each measurement to account for maneuvering the appliance and prevent any damage to your door frames.
What If It Doesn’t Fit?
If your dream washing machine won’t fit inside your home, don’t despair. You have a couple options to still make it work:
- Remove Doors – Doors, especially front doors, can sometimes be temporarily removed to provide a wider opening for moving large items in and out of your home. Just make sure to have a plan for reinstalling.
- Alternative Machine – Consider choosing a washer with more narrow dimensions that will accommodate your current doorways. Features and capacities may be slightly different but you can still find an effective appliance to meet your needs.
- Professional Installers – Many retailers offer professional home delivery and installation. Their expertise and special equipment can safely maneuver washing machines through openings smaller than the appliance itself. There may be an additional cost but it solves the problem of getting the washer inside.
With a few simple measurements and dimensions comparison, determining if your washing machine purchase will fit through entryways is straightforward. And if it doesn’t fit, explore alternative options to still get the right appliance inside your home.
References
ACME Washing Machines Product Specifications
John’s Doors and Windows Removal Services
Laura has had an enthusiasm for laundry ever since she was a teenager experimenting with wash cycles. She went on study textile science in college before working in product testing.
Soon, Laura found friends and family constantly asking her laundry advice, realizing she had become an unofficial laundry guru. The questions kept coming in, so Laura decided to start sharing laundry tips online to help more people. The enthusiastic response led her start the blog “Laundry How”.
Now in her late thirties, Laura uses Laundry How to tackle all kinds of laundry topics – stains, fabric care, detergents, and more. She provides advice from both her studies and experience testing techniques out firsthand. Laura continues to grow an engaged community of laundry learners, feeling fulfilled empowering people to make laundry an easy, confidence-building ritual rather than a dreaded chore.